Run Your Business Like a Business For Greater Success

By Miata Edoga

As a small business owner, your goal is to be successful. The first step toward

that success is to make sure you always treat your business like it's a business. Here's how you should do that when it comes to finances.

The first step is to consider how a big company runs and to try to emulate as much of those practices as possible. All big businesses have business bank accounts and corporate credit cards that allow them to easily track their sales and expenses and, in turn, their profits.

Think for a moment. Are you following this practice? If you don't have a separate bank account and credit card for your business, you're making the mistake of treating your business as a hobby. Unless you happen to be an accountant, it may be a little overwhelming to think in these terms at first. But taking a few easy steps can make this process fall into place. To be sure, this step is absolutely imperative to your success as a small business owner.

Let's start with thinking about how a CEO handles business-related expenses. He or she doesn't charge corporate printing supplies, for example, to his or her personal account-and neither should you! (This is one of the easiest traps for network marketers and home-based entrepreneurs to fall into.) Using a separate bank account for your business makes it impossible for your personal and business expenses to get confused. It also makes record-keeping easier.

Once you set up the business account, make sure that all personal earnings (wages from a "day job" if you have one, alimony, financial gifts, etc.) are always placed in your personal account. Nothing but business earnings should be deposited into your business bank account. You should also be sure to keep personal expenses (rent, clothes, groceries, vacations etc.) and business expenses (salaries, equipment, supplies, etc.) separate, strictly paying for personal expenses out of personal accounts and business expenses out of business bank accounts.

Setting up a new bank account isn't particularly hard but it may take some time to shift your way of thinking. If you're just getting started, you may be worrying that you're not yet at the point where you are profitable enough to pay for all your business expenses. If this is the case, make your business a loan from your personal account. Keep a record of these loans and then allow your business to reimburse you when it becomes profitable.

Just having a business bank account is a great start, but it's not enough. It is also necessary to have a separate credit card for your company. The same protocol goes for the business card: personal purchases should be charged to your personal credit card and business expenses on your business card. Remember that the interest is tax deductible if you carry a balance on your business credit card. Having even one personal expense on the business card disallows this benefit.

Sometimes there are expenses that fall into both categories-a portion is personal and the rest is business. This is particularly true if you work from home or if you use your automobile for business travel. Paying for these items from your personal account is the best way to handle these expenses. Always remember to keep very clear records, though. Keep a log handy in your car to track your business mileage. File your household bills (mortgage/rent, utilities, phone, etc.) together so you can easily access them at tax time. At that point, you can determine what percentage you are allowed to write off as a business expense.

Here are three reasons why these practices will help you be a success:

1. If you want to earn income from your business, you must treat it as a business at all times in both practice and attitude.

2. If you don't keep clear and separate records, the IRS may classify your business as a hobby if you're audited. As a result, you could lose tax deductions and possibly even be penalized.

3. By following these practices, you can easily track your progress, discover any changes you need to make and determine when you've become profitable.

Remember, in addition to treating your business like a business, entrepreneurial success rests on believing in yourself. Be confident in your ability to be a success. By following these tricks of the trade, you are acting like a professional and believing in your own success.

Miata Edoga is the President & Founder of Abundance Bound, Inc., creating success for small business owners, network marketers and solo entrepreneurs. Their mission is to provide the financial knowledge and skills entrepreneurs need to build lasting, stable and profitable businesses. They employ innovative and inspiring methods to share this information, while making sure the learning is practical and action based - creating measurable results. Get your FREE audio download, The Power of Prosperity, with simple strategies guiding small business owners to a rock solid financial foundation at: http://www.AbundanceBoundSystem.com

Serious Entrepreneurs Know How to Stay Motivated

By Shauna Harper

As an entrepreneur do you ever find yourself having grand plans and intentions but then often falling short of them? It is natural to want more wealth, health and knowledge. However, we often lack the motivation to see our plans through. Despite the initial "boom" of enthusiasm, we tend to quickly lose our steam.

A typical true entrepreneur at heart is always looking for their next business. How many of us have signed up for the next MLM or business venture. Your energy is high and your dreams grand, but after working a little while in the business, you end up losing the motivation and the energy you had when you first started. Usually this is after you have also invested a lot of your time and money.

So why should we bother? Achieving what you set out to do, can give you a sense of fulfillment and purpose. You feel accomplished and complete. Learning how to motivate yourself, is a lifelong skill that will make reaching any target possible. So how do you stay motivated or "on task"?

Here are some tips:

1. Find your Dharma Your what? Another word for Life's Purpose is Dharma. What is your true calling in your life? What would you do if money was not an issue? Once you figure that out, then turn whatever you love into service for others. If making a lot of money is your life's purpose, then you need to be helping others do the same, in order to fulfill your life's passion.

2. Get a map! You need to get a roadmap of where you are going. A plan for the next month, 3 months, 6 months and even to a year. By having a plan, you now have direction and a map of how you are going to accomplish your goal.

3. Start to visualize your goal. By visualizing what you want to do, you end up putting your thoughts, feelings and energy into your goal. You can do it simply by closing your eyes and thinking about it, or you can create vision boards around your desired outcomes.

4. Ride the momentum and excitement wave. A quote about how to action our goals by Tony Robbins really sums this up: "Excitement must lead to immediate action or you will lose the power of momentum. More dreams die because we fail to seize the moment. Do it now! "

5. Celebrate small successes and milestones. Everyone always looks at the final destination as the reward. "When I make $1Million Dollars..." By celebrating small successes along the way, you are just reinforcing that you are on task. Examples of milestones could be: The first client you get, the first 4-figure month, the first 5 figure month, the first 6 figure month etc...

6.Keep your energy clean. Have you ever had a great idea that was waiting to blossom and then you shared it with someone and they shot it down? Refrain from getting too close to negative people with negative energy. And if you can't keep completely away, use their negativity or doubt as a way to catapult you to succeed.

7. Network with others. Now with the world wide web, you can find a forum or a group for everything. Networking with others that are either in the same business or similar business, can really keep your motivation level up. Other entrepreneurs have gone through what you have gone through. Note: Remember rule number 6.

8. Use the power of words. Surround yourself with powerful quotes, words and affirmations. You can have a quote or affirmation scroll as your screen saver, hang them up around your house (post it notes are good for that), write them on little cards and carry them in your wallet, or use magnets with quotes. Every time you think you feel your motivation dropping, whip out a card and just say it over and over again.

9. Use personal development products. There is a reason why this is such a booming industry. Using tapes, cds, dvds over and over again can help to put you in the mindset you need to stay motivated. Also, once a year, incorporate your vacation with a personal development workshop so that you come back refreshed and ready to live your life's passion.

10. Exercise, exercise, exercise. If the above 9 steps just don't work to keep you motivated. Put on your workout shoes and just get out and exercise. Once you get your blood pumping, oxygen into your brain, you will be sure to be back on task.

Shauna Harper is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for motivating and helping others to build businesses. If you are looking to build a six figure income that inspires others to suck the juice out of life, then check out her website: http://www.shaunaharper.com.

Solo Entrepreneur - Want to Boost Business, Start With YOU!

By Candice Bowles

When I'm teaching business building strategies one of my key points is that you can't grow your business if you aren't prepared to grow yourself! Having your own business will help you discover amazing things about yourself! You will even do things you never thought you could!

It can get a little rough

On the flip side, having your own business may mean that you have to face personal baggage you would otherwise have carried around for years! This could be an incredible opportunity for personal growth and freedom. But if we are brutally honest, most of us would not request a dose of 'character building' experiences if we didn't have to, would we?

Somewhere we find the courage

But, when growing is connected to our big dreams, we are much more motivated to get out of our comfort zones and grow where we need to! Somewhere along the line we realize that although it may not be easy, it will be worth it!

The downside of being passionate about making a big difference

The advancement of your business is very closely tied to who and what you are because it relies so heavily on your dreams, skills and confidence. The bigger your business, the bigger the responsibilities. For many, that's enough to shy away.

For those with a vision and a passion to make a big difference, the status quo loses its luster. Comfort becomes an unsatisfactory option!

When you say "yes" to growth

So, how do you help yourself grow and take your business with you? First stop: find a mentor (or two). Mentors are the people in our lives who can offer us sage advice on life's challenges. Your mentors (business and personal) can help you take your life to new levels.

Amazing ways a mentor can help you grow

Mentors can help you find clarity where you have blind spots and help you figure out what your next step needs to be. You can benefit from their experiences so that you don't have to learn it all the hard way! They can help keep you accountable and remind you of the big picture when you are getting lost in the details.

Finding a mentor

When you're looking for a mentor, look for people who have experience, expertise and personal values and life skills that you trust and would like to emulate. Mentors can be as informal as your wise old grandmother or as formal as hiring a life coach or business mentor.

If they're not available or affordable

Not everyone we trust and would like to learn from is available or affordable to us. If that's the case turn to their books, or find out if they are speaking at any conferences. You may also be able to follow them online, courtesy of social network sites. Start listening to what they're saying and see how you can learn from them.

If it's not their profession

If you have someone in mind for whom mentoring is not a profession, ask them if they would be willing to meet with you, perhaps once a month or once every 3 months. (Meetings over the phone can work very well too. Don't be put off by geographic distance.)

Be intentional and turn the tide

The fact is, our Western culture focuses so much on independence that we've lost the culture of mentoring. Mentoring is intrinsic in cultures more focused on extended families and community. We need to be intentional about re-introducing this aspect to our lives and the lives of those around us.

One more thing!

As you find yourself a mentor or two, remember that you also have experience and value that others could benefit from and by mentoring others, we also continue to grow ourselves. Is there someone in your life you can make yourself available to, as a mentor?

Would you like to boost your income with a business designed around your strengths and passions? Are you looking for economical ways to grow or market your solo-entrepreneurial, service or home based business?

Whether you're just starting out or already in business, in under 5 minutes, this FREE Business Assessment Tool will give you valuable strategies to help your ideas succeed!

Get your copy at http://www.candicebowles.com. Once you have the tool you can run as many business concepts through it as you like - so you'll always have a way to weigh those new ideas!

Candice Bowles is passionate about helping solo entrepreneurs design great businesses so they can earn income doing what they love. Utilizing her clients' strengths, Candice helps them structure and quickly build dynamic businesses, with an online marketing focus.way to weigh those new ideas!

© 2009 Candice Bowles Consulting.

GLOBAL VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITIES (GVO)

Just Add Life and Stir

by Jeff Olson (excerpted from The Slight Edge)

The Slight Edge® is the missing ingredient you need for all the self-help books, how-tos and life guides to work.

If you don’t grasp the truth of The Slight Edge, then no matter what health books you read, you’re not going to be willing to do the little things that lead you to a healthy life. No matter what you learn, no matter how many books you read, tapes and CDs you listen to, or seminars you attend, if you don’t absorb this philosophy of simple steps and their compounded effect over time, you won’t successfully apply those things you learn to create the results you want.

The Slight Edge is the book you need to read before you read the health book, the sales book, the investment book, the positive attitude book. The Slight Edge is the book you need to read, highlight and reread along with your fitness class, your career planning, your continuing education and your pursuit of new skills. It’s the book to keep with you as you set out to grow and pursue greater accomplishment, achievement and fulfillment in any area of your life.

The Slight Edge will prepare you to be able to absorb all that other information, guidance and education from all those other books, classes, situations and experiences.

If the thing you want to accomplish—your financial goals, life skills, fitness and better health, better relationships, greater knowledge, professional accomplishment, whatever it is—if that’s the meal you want to eat, The Slight Edge is the enzyme that will enable you to digest it. If your life pursuits are programs you want to run, The Slight Edge is the operating system you need to run them. Whatever pictures you want to create in your life, The Slight Edge is the brush and the paint.

What are you after? What do you want more of in your life? Better health, a feeling of vitality and renewed vigor, to feel the kind of energy you used to feel when you were younger? Richer and more satisfying relationships with your family, friends and colleagues? A happier marriage? Financial freedom and long-term financial security? A greater sense of meaning in your life? More involvement in your spiritual life, or do you want to make contributions to your community, others less fortunate at home or around the world? Is there a new skill, a new sport, a new pursuit, a new career you want to master? A new place you want to move to, places to travel, a different home to live in?

Whatever it is, I want you to have it, and I know you can. That is my passionate belief—and I’ve seen it happen too many times to doubt it. But you need a place to start. The Slight Edge is that starting point. It’s the first ingredient.

After that, just add life and stir.

—Jeff Olson

The Safari Called Life

by Dr. Denis Waitley

Many of my keynote presentations to major corporations have focused on my experiences in Africa and how they can be applied to our individual and collective performance in pursuit of excellence and quality of life. I view life as a way of traveling on a mysterious, ever-challenging safari, where the trail is blazed by our daily choices, actions and responses.

There is an oft-repeated cliché I have heard ever since I was a boy: “It’s a jungle out there!” Every television and newspaper headline seems to shout about the perils of existence. Bad news is always the special meal of the day, and because of the media’s increasing preoccupation with what’s wrong in the world, each generation believes it is living in the most difficult times in history. How are we to face our deepening feelings of apprehension and fear in view of increasing global unrest and insecurity? How can we achieve survival, success and serenity in this savage paradise called life?

What I have learned on my pilgrimages to Africa on safari can be applied to our own daily lives. Life in every environment today is a savage paradise—savage to the ignorant, uneducated, unskilled, prejudiced and ill-informed. But it’s a paradise to those who have learned to adapt to and manage change, remain flexible, unhook prejudices, view failures and mistakes as temporary detours and target corrections, and remain lifelong learners. Our safari guides were comfortable and at ease in the dangerous ecosystem of Africa. We, on the other hand, felt vulnerable, insecure and hesitant. We were the newcomers, the tourists. They were the guides, confident through training and experience.

In my book, Safari to the Soul, I mention another book that had made the same parallel as I had, entitled The Jungle is Neutral, written by Col. F. Spencer Chapman, an officer in the British army during World War II. Col. Chapman survived for four years as a guerilla fighter in Malaysia. Cut off from the outside world, which listed him as “missing, believed killed,” he was isolated deep in the jungle, undergoing ordeals such as few individuals have ever lived to document. He escaped twice from prison camps because, in his own words: “I needed to get back to my assignment!”

When questioned later about his adversaries being expert jungle fighters and the fact that he was up against scorpions, yellow fever, malaria, poisonous snakes, incessant rain, wild tigers, leeches and undergrowth so thick it can take four hours to walk a mile, these were Col. Chapman’s observations:

“I had my bouts with most of what you mentioned. Some of it I was prepared for. Some of it I learned on the job. I managed to get around by bicycle, dugout canoe, mostly on foot, and some of the time on my belly crawling through the jungle muck. The jungle provides drinking water, fruit and food, shelter, and plenty of places to hide. I also made friends with the tribal chiefs and natives who had lived there all their lives and who taught me coping skills.”

When it was brought to his attention that others who spent only days or weeks in the jungle swore that the jungle is hostile, cruel and vindictive, Col. Chapman answered resolutely: “To me, the jungle is neutral. It is your knowledge, attitude, skills and habits that see you through. The jungle is what it is. It doesn’t think. It is the backdrop for your journey. Your preparation, training, resourcefulness and dedication are what count.”

On your own safari in pursuit of your professional and personal goals, as you look forward to a new beginning and the climb to a higher level, where you have never journeyed before, remember that acronym called the “KASH-flow” of life.

K is for Knowledge. Invest fully in your lifelong learning. The shelf life of your formal education, with any and all of your degrees, is about 18 months. Every five minutes, there is a new scientific or technological breakthrough that upgrades or makes obsolete what had gone before. Knowledge is the new power and the greatest tool for combating fear and prejudice.

A is for Attitude. Examine your “why,” and compare it with those who are peak-performers in every business. View problems as opportunities to grow and understand that virtually every successful entrepreneur has been a problem-solver and risk-taker. Taking the calculated risk is what creates security. Seeking security, provided by others, is the greatest risk to your personal freedom and fulfillment. Your attitude is either the lock on or key to your door of success.

S is for Skills. Attend meetings and conference calls, and take advantage of every opportunity to gain insights and experiences from successful role models and mentors. We learn by observation, imitation and repetition. Model yourself after mentors with proven track records of success, whose character traits and personal lives match their professional accomplishments. Behind every world-class athlete, there is a world-class coach. The same holds true in every business arena. Surround yourself with winning coaches.

H is for Habits. By the inch, success is a cinch. By the yard, it’s hard. Break your major goals down into mini-goals and stair-step your way to the top by establishing a dynamic daily routine that eliminates time-wasting activities and maximizes performance-achieving activities. Remember, the more you train, the more you gain. Habits are like submarines. They run silent and deep. Repetition is the key. Habits grow, over time, from cobwebs into cables and then shackle or strengthen our lives. Practice makes permanent. Only perfect practice makes perfect. You don’t break habits; you replace them.

By using the KASH formula, you will increase your cash flow and your productivity, giving you more free time to go on safaris when and where you want. Instead of a tourist, you’ll become a tour guide, with a greater awareness of your environment, courage based on skills and training, and an attitude of confidence to turn every stumbling block you face into a steppingstone to success and fulfillment.

Life is a safari into a savage paradise. The quality of your journey will depend on your preparation, choices and responses. Become a guide, instead of a tourist!

Are You an Optimist or a Pessimist?

by Chris Widener

I have been giving some thought lately to optimism and pessimism. Basically, these are attitudes—attitudes that shape and formulate our entire existence. I mean, have you ever met a happy pessimist? Of course not.

In short, our optimism or pessimism is this:

The way we interpret the past
The way we experience and view the present
The way we imagine the future

Have you given much thought about how your attitude, whether you are an optimist or a pessimist, affects you business, organization or school? Have you thought about how it affects you personally? And what about the team you are a part of?

What is optimism? It is the belief that things in our past were good for us, even if that means they were hard and taught us lessons. It is also the belief that things will be better in the future.

Here are some contrasts between optimism and pessimism and how they affect us:

Optimism breathes life into you each day.
Pessimism drains you.

Optimism helps you to take needed risks.
Pessimism plays it safe and never accomplishes much.

Optimism improves those around you.
Pessimism drags them down.

Optimism inspires people to great heights.
Pessimism deflates people to new lows.

There is only one way that optimism and pessimism are the same, and that is that they are both self-fulfilling. If you are an optimist, you will generally find that good things happen to you. And if you are a pessimist, you will find yourself in the not-so-good situations more often than not.

So can a person just become an optimist? Yes! We can choose to look at the world any way we want to. We can choose to look at the world and think the worst, or we can tell ourselves the good things about each situation. As you find yourself looking at your enterprise, begin to view it through the eyes of an optimist, and you will reap the rewards listed above, and so will the people around you.

There are tremendous benefits to being an optimist, as stated above. But there are some pessimists out there who will say, “But that isn’t realistic.” I say, “Who cares?” If things go awry, at least I have spent my time beforehand enjoying life and not worrying about it. And, being an optimist, I would view the “negative” situation as an opportunity to grow and learn. So I can even look forward to my failures because they will be steppingstones and learning tools to be applied to my future success.

Have you ever met a successful pessimist? Become an optimist, and see your world change before your eyes!

—Chris Widener

Three Ounces

by Ron White

I love baseball.

I love going to a game alone, with friends or watching it on TV. I can talk baseball for hours, and even reading about it is interesting for me. Therefore, it should be no surprise that I’ve played on a softball team. I am a decent fielder; however, I take tremendous pride in my hitting. One season, there was only one at-bat that I did not get on base. In other words, I either received a walk or made a hit 29 out of 30 at-bats. At the risk of sounding boastful, that is an extremely impressive statistic!

However, as sometimes occurs in every aspect of life, I went into a slump the very next season. During this season, I went six consecutive at-bats without a hit or a walk. I even struck out once swinging! It was very frustrating for me. I quickly became the worst hitter on the team. I was embarrassed and didn’t know what to do, and then I remembered Ernie Banks....

Ernie played baseball in the 1950s, and he lightened his bat by 3 ounces. He went from hitting 19 home runs to 45 home runs—all because of 3 ounces! So I took a cue from Ernie Banks and I lightened my bat by 3 ounces. It was amazing! I began clobbering the ball all over the field. I finished the season on a hitting tear.

How much is 3 ounces? Very little—but also a lot. Is your life in a slump? If it is, my guess is that you don’t need a major overhaul. Ninety-five percent of the time, dramatic changes can be seen with just minor tweaking. The difference between $50,000 and $500,000 a year may be the result of minor improvements. If you are not getting your desired result, ask yourself, “Is there
anything that I can change just a little in my daily routine to see dramatic results?” Perhaps, a 20-minute daily workout, better time management, reading a book a week or some other idea.

Sometimes a small change is all that it takes. You may be surprised how much 3 ounces is!

—Ron White

Using Our Strength

by Zig Ziglar

Some years ago Brenda Reyes was honored as the Texas Business Woman of the Year, a recognition bestowed by the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce. The 9,000-member group annually honors a businesswoman for her financial success, community involvement and professional service.

Ms. Reyes enrolled in the University of New Orleans, then decided to enlist in the Marines. She later returned to finish college. In addition to the many lessons in honor and discipline she learned in the Marine Corps, her tour gave her the incentive to search for and capitalize on her strengths.

After college, she recognized her aptitude for computers, so in her spare time she set up computer systems for friends who had lost patience with the process. At first she volunteered to help others, but soon she realized she could turn her knowledge into a career. She opened her first software development business in 1986 in her hometown of New Orleans and later moved her company (Innovative Computer Group) to Dallas.

She has faced some tough situations and some hard-core Marines…. She has kept pace with all of the technological changes, she has courageously moved to expand her business, and the results are obvious by her recognition as Texas Business Woman of the Year.

Brenda Reyes has set a good example and taught all of us a lesson in using what we have to its greatest advantage.

—Zig Ziglar

Leadership

by Jim Rohn

Leaders, whether in the family, in business, in government, or in education, must not allow themselves to mistake intentions for accomplishments.

Managers help people to see themselves as they are. Leaders help people to see themselves better than they are.

Leaders must not be naive. I used to say, “Liars shouldn’t lie.” What a sad waste of words that is! I found out liars are supposed to lie. That’s why we call them liars—they lie! What else would you expect them to do?

We must learn to help those who deserve it, not just those who need it. Life responds to deserve, not need.

My mentor said, “Let’s go do it,” not “You go do it.” How powerful when someone says, “Let’s”!

Leaders must understand that some people will inevitably sell out to the evil side. Don’t waste your time wondering why; spend your time discovering who.

When dealing with people, I generally take the obvious approach. When someone says, “This always happens to me and that always happens to me. Why do these things always happen to me?” I simply say, “Beats me. I don’t know. All I know is that those kinds of things seem to happen to people like you.”

We could all use a little coaching. When you’re playing the game, it’s hard to think of everything.

A good objective of leadership is to help those who are doing poorly to do well and to help those who are doing well to do even better.

As a leader you should always start with where people are before you try to take them to where you want them to go.

The Great Leadership Challenge

by Jim Rohn
(excerpted from Leading an Inspired Life)

If you want to be a leader who attracts quality people, the key is to become a person of quality yourself. Leadership is the ability to attract someone to the gifts, skills and opportunities you offer as an owner, as a manager, as a parent. What’s important in leadership is refining your skills. All great leaders keep working on themselves until they become effective. Here are some specifics:

Learn to be strong but not impolite. It is an extra step you must take to become a powerful, capable leader with a wide range of reach. Some people mistake rudeness for strength. It’s not even a good substitute.

Next, learn to be kind but not weak. We must not mistake weakness for kindness. Kindness isn’t weak. Kindness is a certain type of strength. We must be kind enough to tell someone the truth. We must be kind enough and considerate enough to lay it on the line. We must be kind enough to tell it like it is and not deal in delusion.

Next, learn to be bold but not a bully. It takes boldness to win the day. To build your influence, you’ve got to walk in front of your group. You’ve got to be willing to take the first arrow, tackle the first problem, discover the first sign of trouble. Like the farmer, if you want any rewards at harvest time, you have got to be bold and face the weeds and the rain and the bugs straight on. You’ve got to seize the moment.

Here’s the next step. You’ve got to learn to be humble but not timid. You can’t get to the high life by being timid. Some people mistake timidity for humility. But humility is a virtue; timidity is a disease. It’s an affliction. It can be cured, but it is a problem.

Humility is almost a God-like word. A sense of awe. A sense of wonder. An awareness of the human soul and spirit. An understanding that there is something unique about the human drama versus the rest of life. Humility is a grasp of the distance between us and the stars, yet having the feeling that we’re part of the stars.

Here’s a good tip: Learn to be proud but not arrogant. It takes pride to build your ambitions. It takes pride in your community. It takes pride in a cause, in accomplishment. But the key to becoming a good leader is to be proud without being arrogant.

Do you know the worst kind of arrogance? Arrogance from ignorance. It’s intolerable. If someone is smart and arrogant, we can tolerate that. But if someone is ignorant and arrogant, that’s just too much to take.

The next step is learning to develop humor without folly. In leadership, we learn that it’s okay to be witty but not silly; fun but not foolish.

Next, deal in realities. Deal in truth. Save yourself the agony of delusion. Just accept life as it is. Life is unique. The whole drama of life is unique. It’s fascinating.

Life is unique. Leadership is unique. The skills that work well for one leader may not work at all for another. However, the fundamental skills of leadership can be adopted to work well for just about everyone: at work, in the community and at home.

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

Change Begins with Choice

by Jim Rohn

Any day we wish, we can discipline ourselves to change it all. Any day we wish, we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge. Any day we wish, we can start a new activity. Any day we wish, we can start the process of life change. We can do it immediately, or next week, or next month, or next year.

We can also do nothing. We can pretend rather than perform. And if the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labor, entertainment over education, delusion over truth, and doubt over confidence. The choices are ours to make. But while we curse the effect, we continue to nourish the cause. As Shakespeare observed, “The fault is not in the stars, but in ourselves.” We created our circumstances by our past choices. We have both the ability and the responsibility to make better choices beginning today. Those who are in search of the good life do not need more answers or more time to think things over to reach better conclusions. They need the truth. They need the whole truth. And they need nothing but the truth.

We cannot allow our errors in judgment, repeated every day, to lead us down the wrong path. We must keep coming back to those basics that make the biggest difference in how our life works out. And then we must make the very choices that will bring life, happiness and joy into our daily lives.

And if I may be so bold to offer my last piece of advice for someone seeking and needing to make changes in their life, if you don’t like how things are, change it! You’re not a tree. You have the ability to totally transform every area in your life—and it all begins with your very own power of choice.

—Jim Rohn

Made for Success Quote and Commentary

“The most powerful tool for change and achievement you have in your arsenal, sits, waiting to be used, right between your ears.” —Chris Widener



Chris’s Commentary:
The mind is truly incredible. Think about how much it gets done when you aren’t even purposefully using it! You have an itch and it tells your arm and hand to get busy! How much more the brain can accomplish if we set ourselves to be conscious of the effort. Your mind can control your body. Your mind can help you break bad habits. Your mind can solve problems. I find that there are two main problems with most people in this area. One, they have programmed their minds negatively and thus can’t get their minds to produce the results they want. Two, they don’t take the time to think, ponder and make conscious decisions to put their minds to work. But if they would—watch out!

Action Point:
Prepare your mind today. First, be sure to put something positive in it. This will “prime the pump,” so to speak. Secondly, take some time to get it moving consciously. Think, ponder and exercise your ability to choose!

Eight Choices You Can Make Today That Will Change Your Life Forever

by Chris Widener

The direction of our lives is determined by the choices we make every day. They accumulate and add up to our ultimate destiny. Here are eight choices you can make—choices that will create for you abundance and prosperity in all areas of your life.

1. Choose to grow personally. This sounds simple but many people only wish to grow personally. They never choose to grow by taking action, such as actually exercising, saving more money, etc. Make a decision today to be a person who is on the never-ending journey of personal growth.

2. Choose to always treat others right. We come across all sorts of people, many of whom will treat us poorly. We can choose to treat them right, no matter how they treat us. When they lie, we will tell the truth. When they cheat, we will play by the rules. We may get the short end of the stick sometimes, but in the long run we will win. And most important, we will be able to sleep at night.

3. Choose to break a bad habit. Take the biggie first. Tackle it head on. If you don’t know what it is, ask a friend. Then spend every effort you can to break that habit. Forget about the others, as you will get to them later. Stop smoking, get out of debt, lose your excess weight. Exercise the power to choose!

4. Choose to work smarter. Many people I work with feel like they are out of balance. One of the first things I do is try to find out how much time they are wasting at work, which makes them work longer, which throws the rest of their life into chaos. Getting your work done by diligently working in the time you have will free your life up extraordinarily.

5. Choose to see your work as a way to help others, and not a way to make money. If you put your heart into helping others, the money will most assuredly come. Spend time helping others grow and your finances will grow with it.

6. Choose to become balanced spiritually, emotionally and physically. Our lives are best when we have these three major areas in balance. Spend some time cultivating your spirituality, becoming emotionally healthy, and physically fit.

7. Choose to sow more than you reap. There are many takers in this world, but our lives will be better as we become givers. The world will become better as we become givers. Give away your time, give away your money, give away your love.

8. Choose to get home for dinner more often. The family is the most important group of people you will ever belong to. Make a decision today to grow in your relationship with your parents, siblings, spouse and children. This one choice you will never regret.

One of my favorite quotes: “The history of free men is never written by chance, but by choice; their choice.” —Dwight D. Eisenhower

—Chris Widener

The Power of the Right Coach

by Denis Waitley

Throughout history, most of the great achievements and incredible comebacks have been the result of an individual whose motivation to persevere was influenced by a coach or mentor. In science, art, politics, sports and business, there is a common thread of having been coached among those who achieve greatness. A coach doesn’t need to be a professional consultant or counselor. He or she could be someone within your organization or industry, or it could be someone from your personal life whom you respect or admire.

A study was undertaken on the Hawaiian island of Kauai by two researchers named Emily Werner and Ruth Smith. This study, which followed more than 450 people from childhood through their adult lives, was an attempt to learn why some people are motivated to overcome severe disadvantages while others from the same background seem to have been overwhelmed by their problems. This research continued for an incredible length of time: 40 years, to be exact.

According to the research, one of the most interesting qualities of these motivated individuals is their ability to recognize potential sources of support in other people, to look beyond the walls of their homes to find relatives, friends, teachers or other role models who can provide help. This very important finding illustrates the benefits of forming mentor relationships to encourage achievement.

Choosing a coach or mentor is like having an additional correctional device to keep you on target. An analogy of this premise comes from aerospace technology. Years ago, the military used inertial guidance systems on missiles. Unfortunately, once the course of an inertially guided missile is set, it proceeds along that path with no capability for adjustments. It’s like a bullet fired from a rifle. Even when the aim is good at the outset, if the target moves unexpectedly once the projectile is in flight, the shot is going to miss. And if there’s one thing you can count on in life, it’s that the target is going to be moving! In the Gulf War of 1992, the Patriot missile that defended Israel and Saudi Arabia was introduced. Unlike previous defenses, this system had an advanced self-adjusting navigation system that continuously monitored the missile’s trajectory as well as the path of its swiftly moving target. The Patriot was able to make whatever corrections were necessary, regardless of changes in the position or speed of its objective.

A highly motivated person uses a coach or mentor in the same way when he or she has targeted a worthwhile goal. A coach or mentor can assist you in making adjustments and navigating through difficult times.

Finding coaches and mentors is an important mission, and you will no doubt have several over the course of your life. It is critical that you choose them wisely. Your mentor is someone to whom you’ll be committing a great deal of time and attention, and who ideally will take a very focused interest in you as well.

—Denis Waitley

The Power of One-on-One

by Denis Waitley

The secret to being a good role model and mentor is in finding out what others want and helping them succeed. The secret to being a good and wise communicator is the patient listening for those desires in others, and also in learning from the experiences of others by questioning and listening thoroughly, so that we may learn from their successes and failures.

Frank Sinatra learned his superb breath control in singing from his first band leader, Tommy Dorsey. In large part, the person Helen Keller became was because of Anne Sullivan. Plato learned from Socrates. Jesse Owens credits his winning of the long jump in the 1936 Olympics to a tip given to him by his top German competitor, Luz Long. In the middle of the event, after Owens had already fouled twice on takeoff, Long gave Owens a helpful hint on how to correct his takeoff point. The result was a record breaking leap of over 26 feet, which stood for more than 20 years.

Artists have always learned more from observing other artists than from going to classes or observing nature. In a sense, you and I are master artists who have the opportunity to breathe new colors, shading and perspective into the lives of other artists who are struggling with their oils, brushes and canvases. Think back to the people who have had the most influence on you. You will likely find that they have been people who really cared about you—your parents, a great teacher, a coach, business associate, a good friend—someone who was interested in you. The only people you will influence to any great degree will be the people you care about. When you are with people you care for, their interests, rather than your own, will be uppermost in your mind.

Our success in getting along with others and communicating effectively with them depends solely upon our ability to recognize their desires and needs, and help them fill those desires and needs with positive actions.

In the communication process, knowledge is not always wisdom, sensitivity is not always accuracy, and sympathy is not always understanding. All customer service and the ability to gain trust and repeat business is based on empathy. Empathy is “feeling with” and never assuming anything until you have “walked a mile in the other person’s moccasins.” Since it is impossible to know the road another has walked, the best alternative is to ask questions with interest and respect, and listen for the hidden agendas and desires.

In this way, you can be a Renoir to the next Monet!

—Denis Waitley